Keri Lane isn’t surprised to learn Wake County ranks far behind similar metropolitan areas when it comes to pay. Lane has taught in the Wake County Public School System for about two decades and works seasonal side gigs to boost her pay. The state pays the bulk of teacher pay in most states, and local school districts pay a supplement on top of that. Similarly, who’s more responsible for increasing pay for teachers in North Carolina and in individual districts depends on who you ask. With the new state pay raises, she’ll likely earn north of $83,000 from teaching next year.